Joseph h



J. H. WHITTINGT'ON.

(Np Model.)

BICYCLE LAMP BRACKET.

No. 568,6 49. Patnted Sept. 29,1896.

Witnesses,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH H. WHITTINGTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FORSYTH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BICYCLE-LAMP BRACKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,649, dated September 29, 1896. Application fil d January 24,1896. Serial No. 576,658. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, J osEPH H. l/VHITTING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county .of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Lamp Brackets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements by means of which the construction is simplified and the clamping portions of the bracket are held in either an open or closed position by a spring force, and whereby the weight of the lamp, when placed upon the bracket, assists in holding the clamping portions to the bicycle-fork post, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the device, showing it attached to a bicycle-fork post. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the device, showing the clamping portions in their closed position. Fig. 3 is also a top plan view showing the clamping portions in their open positions. Fig. t represents a rear elevation showing the clamping port-ions open. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section on or about line a a, Fig. 1, the bicycle-fork post being omitted.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 and 1 is the substantially upright portion of the lamp-holding bracket. It will be noticed that it is curved at the top and the two side portions 1 and 1 extend downward and outward, so the lamp-holding portion of the bracket is broader at the bottom than at the top.

The parts 1 and 1 extend down to the points 2 and from thence backward in a substantially horizontal direction to the points 4. and then downward, forming the parts 5, which are secured to the semicircular clamping portions, as will appear farther on.

The semicircular clamping portions 6 and 6 are hinged together at the front by a hinge portion 7 and pin 8, which is riveted at the top and bottom to keep it in place. On each side of the semicircular clamping portions 6 is an ear 9, made by bending the sheet-metal portions 9 (forming part of the clamp) outward These ears 9 are perin the usual way.

forated to receive the wire bracket portions 5, which are passed down through them and riveted, as shown in Fig. 1. At the rear the clamping portions are bent outward, forming the perforated fastening portions 10 and 10", in one of which is a screw-thread adapted to receive a thumb-screw 11. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 5.) Inside of the clamping portions is a lining of felt 12 or other suitable material secured thereto by cement.

The wire bracket is made of spring material, the parts 1 and 1 and 3 and 3 being made to spring together or toward each other when left free to act. From the above description it will be seen that when the device is closed, as in Figs. 2 and 5, the springbracket will hold it shut with a spring force, and when. the parts are opened out, as in Figs. 3 and 4, the spring-bracket will again act and by the same yielding spring force will hold them open, as shown in said Figs. 3 and 4.

The object of the above construction is that the bracket is more conveniently and quickly put in place and secured on the bicycle-fork post, and the object in spreading the portions 1 and 1 outward from the top downward is that when the lamp is put on its attaching portion, which has an opening just large enough to pass over it, causes the parts 1 and 1 to be pressed toward each other, and the weight of the lamp thus tends to tighten the bracket-clamp on the fork-post and will therefore hold it (without the thumbscrew 11) when the lamp-attaching portion is pressed down over it.

The spring-wire bracket and weight of the lamp will therefore hold the clamping device to the bicycle-fork post, and the thumb-screw 11 is an additional holding device by which it can be rigidly secured.

The ad vantage in pivoting the spring-wirebracket portion 5 at or about the center of the hinged semicircular portions 6 and 6*" is that the device may be put onto a bicyclefork post and adjusted either up or down by one hand of the operator while the other hand is holding the wheel. The above construction therefore produces a device that is very convenient to adjust and secure in place or remove under any condition that may arise.

I am aware that circular spring" clampingrings having fastening-screws similar to the thumb-screws 11 are old and Well known for clamping a lamp-bracket to a bicycle-fork post.

I am also aware that similar clamping devices have been used for holding a Stovepipeshelf to a stovepipc or for analogous uses, as in United States Patents Nos. 128,162 and 128,063 or No. 85,392, and other United States patents. I therefore do not claim such construetion broadly; but

\Vhat I do claim is- 1. In a bicycle-lam p bracket, the combination of two semicircular clamping portions, hinged to each other at one end, means for detachably securing them together at the opposite end, outward-extending ears located on each of said clamping portions, and a spring lamp-supporting bracket having its ends mounted in said ears, the said lampsupporting bracket being formed with the side pieces of its upward-extending lamp-receiving portion extending gradually from each other from the top downward, whereby when the lamp is slipped over the said receiving portion, the two clamping portions are automatically and positively locked to each other, and around the bicycle-frame tube, as set forth.

The combination with two semicircular clamping portions hinged together at one end, of a springwire lamp-supporting bracket, the ends of said supporting-bracket being socured, one to each of the said clamping portions,w11ereby the said clamping portions may be held open with a spring force, closed with a s prin g force,or automatically looked around the frame-tube when the lamp is hung on the bracket as set forth.

JOSEPH II. WIIIT'IINGION.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES SANGSTER, O. S. SANGSTER. 

